Sports

February 4th, 2013, 6:23 pm ·

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Cal Lutheran senior center Ryan Smith (middle) is likely out for the year after suffering a knee injury. Also pictured, coach Dave Peter (left) and teammate Robert Riesenberg. (Kurt Miller/Staff Photographer)

BY JEFFREY PARENTI
STAFF WRITER
jparenti@pe.com

MRI results revealed that Wildomar Cal Luthern center Ryan Smith suffered a torn knee ligament in the January 19 game against Brethren Christian and is likely lost for the remainder of the season, coach and athletic director Dave Peter said by e-mail.

Smith, a 6-foot-10 senior, averages 16.4 points, 12.3 rebounds and 5.3 blocks per game for the C-Hawks.

Peter said the initial injury was a kneecap dislocation.

"The doctor didn't see any cartilage damage, so that's good news," Peter wrote. "(Smith) will be in a brace for one more week and then starts physical therapy next Friday. It looks like his season is done unless he makes a phenomenal recovery in the next 2-4 weeks and we are still playing."

Cal Lutheran (8-2, 14-6) had been ranked as high as No. 1 in the CIF-Southern Section poll for tiny Division 6.

The C-Hawks, who played for a CIF title last season, have gone 3-1 in Arrowhead League play since losing Smith. Cal Lutheran concludes the regular season this week when it travels to face La Sierra Academy on Tuesday and then plays host to California School for the Deaf-Riverside on Thursday.

"Needless to say, it's disappointment for him and his teammates," Peter wrote. "Hopefully, his team can step it up in his absence and still make a run at a championship."

Jeffrey Parenti covers boys basketball and Southwest Riverside County sports for The Press-Enterprise and HSGameTime.PE.com. E-mail him at jparenti@pe.com.>

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